Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 1

वीरभद्रक्रोधशमनं देवस्तुतिश्च

Pacification of Vīrabhadra and the Gods’ Hymn

Devanagari script

वायुरुवाच । इति सञ्छिन्नभिन्नांगा देवा विष्णुपुरोगमाः । क्षणात्कष्टां दशामेत्य त्रेसुः स्तोकावशेषिता

Transliteration

vāyuruvāca | iti sañchinnabhinnāṃgā devā viṣṇupurogamāḥ | kṣaṇātkaṣṭāṃ daśāmetya tresuḥ stokāvaśeṣitā

Translation

风神（Vāyu）说道：“于是，诸天在毗湿奴率领下，肢体被击碎并斩断，顷刻间陷入惨苦之境；力量仅余些许，皆因恐惧而战栗。”

Word by Word

• vāyuḥ: Vāyu
• vāyuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāyu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (इति-प्रयोग/उद्धरणसूचक अव्यय)

• sañchinna-bhinnāṅgāḥ: whose limbs were cut and broken
• sañchinna-bhinnāṅgāḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sañchinna (कृदन्त, √chid धातु) + bhinna (कृदन्त, √bhid धातु) + aṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Bahuvrīhi (बहुव्रीहि) adjective; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन)

• devāḥ: the gods
• devāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन)

• viṣṇu-purogamāḥ: having Viṣṇu in the forefront
• viṣṇu-purogamāḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक) + purogama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन)

• kṣaṇāt: in a moment / from a moment
• kṣaṇāt: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Ablative (पञ्चमी/5), Singular (एकवचन)

• kaṣṭām: painful, grievous
• kaṣṭām: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kaṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• daśām: condition, state
• daśām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• etya: having reached
• etya: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: i (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), from √i ‘to go/come’; indeclinable verbal form

• tresuḥ: they trembled / were terrified
• tresuḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: tras (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• stoka-avaśeṣitāḥ: left with only a little remaining
• stoka-avaśeṣitāḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: stoka (प्रातिपदिक) + avaśeṣita (कृदन्त, √śiṣ/√śeṣ धातु ‘to remain’)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन)

Speaker

Vayu

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Vayu
• Vishnu
• Devas

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It highlights that even exalted beings like the devas, despite power and status, become vulnerable when bound by limitation (pāśa). From a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, only Pati (Śiva) is ultimately independent; all others require His grace to overcome fear and suffering.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

The devas’ broken condition sets the narrative ground for taking refuge in Śiva’s accessible, compassionate form—often approached as Saguna Śiva and worshipped through the Liṅga—where divine help is sought for restoration, protection, and right order (dharma).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is śaraṇāgati (seeking refuge) expressed through japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” along with simple Śiva-pūjā such as offering water to the Liṅga; this cultivates humility and steadiness when facing fear.